Maya did not open the door.
She stood several feet away from it.
“Dad?”
“Yes.”
“Why are you here?”
“I need to talk to you.”
Rachel moved beside her.
Her father knocked again.
“Please.”
Maya looked through the peephole.
Her father stood alone on the porch.
No car was visible.
No one stood behind him.
He looked older than he had on the phone.
Wet hair clung to his forehead.
Maya unlocked the door but kept the chain fastened.
“What do you want?”
He looked at Rachel.
“She knows?”
“She knows enough.”
Her father closed his eyes.
“Then let me in.”
Maya hesitated.
Finally she removed the chain.
Her father entered.
He looked at the cassette player.
“You found it.”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“I hoped you wouldn't.”
“Why?”
“Because once you know the truth, you can't put it back.”
Maya folded her arms.
“Try me.”
He sat down.
Rachel remained standing.
Maya noticed his hands.
They were shaking.
“Dad, did Grandpa survive the fire?”
He looked at the floor.
“No.”
“Did he die in the workshop?”
“No.”
Maya's chest tightened.
“Then where?”
“They found him in the basement.”
“Alive?”
“For a few hours.”
Maya stared at him.
“You were there.”
“Yes.”
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
“Why did you let me believe he died immediately?”
“Because your mother was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“That whoever caused the fire would come back.”
Maya sat opposite him.
“Was it Robert?”
Her father didn't answer.
“Dad.”
“Robert helped arrange the fire.”
Rachel gasped.
Maya's face went numb.
“You're sure?”
“I saw him.”
“Then why is he still with Mom?”
“Because your mother didn't know.”
Maya stood.
“She knew enough.”
“She knew he was dangerous.”
“Then why marry him?”
“Because he convinced her the danger was gone.”
Maya looked at Rachel.
Her sister was staring at their father.
“What about Clara?”
“She survived.”
Maya's heart jumped.
“What?”
“Clara survived the warehouse fire.”
“Where is she?”
“I don't know.”
“You said she was alive.”
“She was when I last saw her.”
“When?”
“Twenty years ago.”
Maya sat down slowly.
“Why didn't she come forward?”
“Because she had the ledger.”
“The original one.”
“Yes.”
“Where is it?”
Her father looked at the cassette.
“Your grandfather gave it to Clara.”
“Why?”
“Because he knew someone inside the family was working with Robert.”
Maya felt the room grow colder.
“Who?”
Her father stared at her.
“I don't know.”
Rachel spoke.
“You do.”
He shook his head.
“No.”
“You wouldn't have come here if you didn't.”
Her father rubbed his face.
“I came because someone threatened you.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“That's not good enough.”
He looked at Maya.
“Your mother called me this morning.”
Maya's expression changed.
“What did she say?”
“She said Robert knew you had the key.”
Rachel stepped backward.
“That means Mom told him.”
“Probably.”
Maya stared at her father.
“Why would she do that?”
“I don't know.”
The answer irritated Maya.
But then she noticed something.
Her father's coat was torn near the pocket.
“What happened?”
He looked down.
“Nothing.”
“Dad.”
He removed a folded piece of paper.
“This was pushed under my door.”
Maya opened it.
It contained a photograph.
Clara Voss stood beside an older woman.
Maya recognized the older woman immediately.
Denise.
Her mother.
Maya couldn't speak.
Rachel took the photograph.
“That's Mom.”
Her father nodded.
“They knew each other.”
“When?”
“Before you were born.”
Maya turned the photograph over.
A date was written on the back.
Three years before Maya's birth.
Underneath:
THE TRUST WAS NEVER FOR MAYA ALONE.
Maya read it twice.
“What does that mean?”
Her father looked toward the staircase.
“I don't know.”
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
“Hello?”
Nobody spoke.
His face drained of color.
“What?”
He listened.
Then looked at Maya.
“She's gone.”
Maya stood.
“Who?”
“Your mother.”
Rachel grabbed his arm.
“What happened?”
“She left the house.”
“When?”
“Ten minutes ago.”
Maya's phone rang.
An unknown number.
She answered.
A woman's voice whispered.
“Maya?”
Maya's heart stopped.
“Who is this?”
“My name is Clara.”
Rachel covered her mouth.
Maya gripped the phone.
“Where are you?”
“I don't have much time.”
“Tell me where you are.”
“You have the key.”
“Yes.”
“Then you already know where to go.”
Maya looked at the key on the table.
“The storage room?”
“No.”
Clara's voice trembled.
“The room beneath it.”
Maya's eyes moved to the cassette player.
“What is in there?”
A long silence.
Then Clara said:
“The names your grandfather died protecting.”
The line went dead.
Maya stared at the phone.
Her father rose.
“We need to leave.”
Rachel shook her head.
“Where?”
Maya picked up the key.
“St. Matthew's.”
Her father looked alarmed.
“No.”
Maya turned.
“Why?”
He didn't answer.
She stepped closer.
“Dad, what is beneath that wall?”
He looked at her.
“The room where Robert kept the ledger.”
Maya's pulse raced.
“And where is Robert now?”
Her father's expression changed.
“I don't know.”
Maya reached for the photograph of Clara and her mother.
Then she noticed something in the background.
Behind them stood the old workshop.
And beside its door was a little girl.
Maya.
She was holding the same key.
Click here to continue reading: PART 9: The Photograph Put Maya at the Center of a Secret She Had Spent Her Entire Life Believing Belonged to Others
The Dinner Was Supposed to Mend Our Family Until My Daughter’s Cry Changed Everything
Part 8 of 20
